Phil Phelps declares victory in Genesee County's 49th District state House race

GENESEE COUNTY, MI – Phil Phelps declared victory in the 49th
District state House race around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday with more than 80 percent
of the precincts reporting.

As of 10:40 p.m. Phelps, 34, of Flushing had 4,181 votes or
62.13 percent.

"I'm still wiping the tears from my eyes," Phelps said after
declaring victory. "Well, it feels good for the anticipation to be done and
over with. It's more exciting to know that in a few short days I'm going to be
able to give back to the community that has given me so much."

Phelps went up against Republican candidate Don Pfeiffer,
40, of Flint and Libertarian candidate Pat Clawson, 58, of Swartz Creek. Pfeiffer
received 33.27 percent of the votes, while Clawson received 4.28 percent.

The House seat became vacant after Jim Ananich, D-Flint, was
elected to the 27th District Senate seat May 7 during a special election.

Phelps was the first of any of the candidates to start
campaigning. He started campaigning in April, before the seat ever became vacant. With the district being more than 72 percent
Democratic, experts said Phelps was a shoo-in to win the seat.

The 49th District's boundaries has changed multiple times
over the years, but the last time a Republican represented even a part of the
district – a portion of Swartz Creek – was former state representative Dave
Robertson, now a state senator, 22 years ago, said Political Analyst Bill
Ballenger in a previous interview.

Phelps, former special advisor for House Democratic Leader
Richard Hammel and former chief of staff for incoming State Rep. Pam Faris in
2013, raised $28,784 during his entire campaign as of Oct. 20. That was more than
$20,000 more than Pfeiffer, who raised $7,298 as of Oct. 20.

The first issues he will focus on in the state House will be
a new plan for unemployment, followed by a focus on education and revenue
sharing.

All the knocking on doors and stuffing envelopes paid off
for Phelps.

"It was an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward those that
I surrounded myself with. I can't thank them enough," Phelps said.